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^ XXV11 i//// >. 3 ; - * 




















FAIRY TALES FROM FLOWERLAND 


~D 

272 . 






ALTEMUS’ FAIRY TALES SERIES 



The Enchanted Castle 

A Book of Fairy Tales 
from Flowerland 

EDITED with an INTRODUCTION 

By Hartwell James 

WITH FORTY ILLUSTRATIONS 
By JOHN R. NEILL 



PHILADELPHIA 

HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY 


33 5 & 3 




SEP U* 1906 


✓7 Cepyrignt Intry 
\k*yLe/Z,/9o6 
4LASS O- XXc., No. 

/V-Z/7C, 

COPY B. 




Altemus’ 

Illustrated 

Fairy Tales Series 


The Magic Bed 

A Book of East Indian Tales 

The Cat and the Mouse 

A Book of Persian Tales 

The Jeweled Sea 

A Book of Chinese Tales 

The Magic Jaw Bone 

A Book of South Sea Islands Tales 

The Man Elephant 

A Book of African Tales 

The Enchanted Castle 

A Book of Tales from Flower Land 

Fifty Cents Each 

Copyright, 1906 , < { • 

By Henry Altesntis 






Every boy and girl — and for that matter every 
man and woman, too — rejoices when the winter 
snows have vanished and the earth once more puts 
on her beautiful dress of green, for then the flowers 
wake from their sleep and clothe the earth with 
beauty. 

Because all boys and girls love flowers, those 
of them who read this book will be interested in 
the beautiful stories they have to tell, loving them 
even more when they know something of their 
past history and some of the events with which they 
are associated. 

Hundreds of years ago, before clocks or watches 

M 


INTRODUCTION 

were invented, people used to tell the time by means 
of flowers, and 

“ 'Twas a lovely thought to mark the hours 
As they floated in light away, 

By the opening and the folding flowers 
That laugh to the summer’s day." 

One very old writer tells us that he knew of 
forty-six flowers by which he could tell the time, 
and since then a great many more have been dis- 
covered. These time-keepers open and shut their 
blossoms at exactly the same time each day, and 
every hour of the day or night some flower opens 
and closes its petals. 

Then those who love fairies know that they have 
much to do with the flowers, and while to some they 
may seem very trifling occupations — this writing 
and reading about fairies — yet 

“ Another sort there be, that will 
Be talking of the Fairies still ; 

Nor never can they have their fill 
As they were wedded to them.” 


[vi] 


H. J. 



The Enchanted Castle 13 

The Fair Maids of February 23 

The Loveless Youth 35 

The Wind Flower 41 

The Fate of Hyacinthus 49 

St. Leonard and the Fiery Snake 57 

A Fair Prisoner 6 9 

The Ungrateful Traveler 79 

The Star of Bethlehem 8 7 

The Angel’s Gift 95 

The Holy Hay 105 

The Search for Gold 115 

The Flower Fairies 121 


[vii] 





i 























Page 

‘“You will come to the walls of an old castle *” . . . Frontispiece 

“ ‘ I am gathering them for Mother ’ ” 14 

“ Slowly the great door opened ” 16 

“ ‘ The Key-flower will always admit you ’ ” 17 

‘‘Hastened home to her mother ” 18 

“The skies were gray and cheerless” 24 

“ ‘ Tell me why thou weepest *” 25 

“ The angel handed her the frail blossom ” 28 

“ When the winter snows disappear ” 29 

“The monks were fond of planting the snowdrops” 31 

“ The boy did not return their love ” 36 

“The image in the water returned no answer” 37 

“ Zephyr cared not for Lady Flora ” 42 

“ When the March winds blow ” 43 

“ She is a capital weather-glass ” 44 

[ix] 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page 

“ They walked and drove together ” 50 

“ Playing a game of quoits together ” 51 

“ He had slain him with his own hand ” 52 

“ With such returning spring ” 53 

“ The country people warned him ” 58 

“He sank, exhausted, upon the steps" 61 

“ As they followed its winding course ” 62 

“ But St. Leonard drew his sword ’* 63 

“ Shut up in the turret-chamber ” 7 1 

“In the disguise of a peddler” 73 

“ She fell into the court yard below ” 74 

“ The sweet blossoms of a tiny flower ” 80 

“ A great doorway in the rock ” ... 81 

“ Once more upon the bleak mountain side ” 82 

“ He could hear the voices of the priests ” 88 

“ ‘ The Star of Bethlehem ’ men call it ” 89 

“ The bright messenger from heaven ” 90 

“ Then she was tied to the stake 97 

“ ‘ Make me more lovely still * ” 99 

“ The birds of the air came to him ” 100 

“ A crown around the baby head ” 106 

“ His bed was of fresh, sweet hay ” 107 

“They were struck with wonder” 114 

“Hunted down like wild beasts ” 115 

“ The Spaniards called them Marigolds ” 116 

M 


THE ENCHANTED CASTLE 





« 




* 









THE ENCHANTED CASTLE 


“ Primroses, the Spring may love them, 

Summer knows but little of them." 

— Wordsworth. 

NE day a little German girl was 
gathering flowers in the meadows, 
when she was met by a wonder- 
ful maiden. Wondrous fair the 
maiden was to look upon. 

Her dress was of pale green vel- 
vet, with streaks of bright crimson. In her hand 
she carried a basket of spring flowers, and on her 
[ 13 ] 



THE ENCHANTED CASTLE 


head she wore a wreath of pale yellow blossoms. 
Her voice was like the sound of silver bells. 

“Lisbeth, you are a good child,” she said. “You 
have done your best to help your sick mother, and 
now tell me, what are you going to do with the 
flowers you are gathering?” 



And the little girl replied, “I am gathering them 
for mother. She loves the spring flowers, but she 
is too ill to gather them for herself, and she cannot 
afford to buy them.” 

“I know that you are telling the truth,” said the 

[ 14 ] 



THE ENCHANTED CASTLE 


fairy. “ Y our mother is sick and poor, and you want 
to help her. Now look at this, Lisbeth,” she con- 
tinued, giving the child a blossom from her basket 
like those upon her head, “this is a primrose. Take 
it, and as you walk along follow the primrose blos- 
soms until you come to the walls of an old castle. 

“In the wall you will find a great doorway, cov- 
ered all over with flowers. Touch the lock gently 
with your ‘key-flower’ ” pointing to the primrose 
she had given her, “and the door will open so that 
you may enter the enchanted castle. I will meet 
you there again.” 

Then the fairy vanished as suddenly as she had 
appeared, but the astonished Lisbeth did as she had 
been told, and followed the primroses on the banks 
until she reached the castle walls. 

She soon found the door covered with flowers, 
and moving aside some of the beautiful blossoms, 
she placed her “key-flower” upon the lock. Slowly 
the great door opened, but Lisbeth was so surprised 
at what she saw within that she was afraid to enter, 

and could only stand and look. 

[ 15 ] 


THE ENCHANTED CASTLE 


Great baskets hung from the roof of the house 
full of the pale yellow blossoms; banks of them 
were heaped around the walls ; while upon the floor 



and tables stood vases of all shapes and sizes con- 
taining nothing but primroses. 

But in a few minutes she heard a sweet voice 
calling her, and oh entering she saw once more her 
fairy friend. 


[ 16 ] 


THE ENCHANTED CASTLE 


“Lisbeth,” the fairy said, “come in and take what 
you like. Under those sweet blossoms are chests 
containing gold, silver and jewels. You may re- 
move the flowers and open which you please. Take 
as much as you can carry, and come again as often 



you. 

“But there is one thing you must remember. 
You must not take away a single blossom, but 
every flower must be replaced where you find it. 
So long as you observe this rule you will always 

# — The Enchanted Castle [ 17 ] 


THE ENCHANTED CASTLE 


find an entrance into this home of wealth and 
treasure, but if you disobey punishment will 
quickly follow.” 

As she spoke these words the fairy again van- 
ished, and Lisbeth, seeking among the flowers, 



found the treasure of which she had been told. 
Filling her apron with gold and silver, she re- 
placed the blossoms she had removed, and hastened 
home to her mother. 

And great was the delight of the poor sick 
woman, for now she and her little daughter need 

[ 18 ] 


THE ENCHANTED CASTLE 


be no longer poor. Many and many a time they 
visited the enchanted castle; and ever since Lis- 
beth told the story to her friends, the boys and 
girls of Germany have called the primrose the 
“key-flower.” 

They believe that as long as they are good and 
obedient it will unlock for them the door of the 
enchanted castle, where treasures of wealth and 
happiness are to be found. 



[ 19 ] 


V 


» 






ft 


I 


















THE FAIR MAIDS OF FEBRUARY 












I 




,f 4 / 
















THE FAIR MAIDS OF FEBRUARY 



M The frail snowdrop 
Bom of the breath of Winter.” 

— Barry Cornwall. 


GREAT many years ago, when 
Adam and Eve were turned out 
of Eden for their disobedience, 
Eve looked out over the bare and 
desolate earth and wept for the 
beauty she had lost. 

Before this it had always been summer-time. 
The sun had always shone, and Eve had breathed 
[ 23 ] 



THE FAIR MAIDS OF FEBRUARY 


the fragrance of the flowers, day after day, and 
gathered them at her own sweet will. 

But now it was winter, and all was changed. 
The trees stood bare and leafless ; no birds sang in 
their branches; no sweet blossoms raised their 



heads to catch the sun’s warm rays. The skies 
were gray and cheerless, and ever the soft white 
snow kept falling silently, “like the footsteps of 
angels descending upon earth.” 

But the good God in Heaven saw Eve sit weep- 

[ 24 ] 







THE FAIR MAIDS OF FEBRUARY 


ing, and looked down on her with pitying eyes, and 
turning to one of the bright angels who stood by, 
ready to do His bidding, He said : 

“See how yonder poor woman sits weeping. Go 
swiftly and do what thou canst to comfort her,” and 
the angel spread her wings and sped earthward 
with the falling snow. 

“Tell me why thou weepest,” she said, as she 
placed her hand gently upon the head of the weep- 
ing woman. 

And Eve replied, “I weep because the earth is 
bare and desolate, and there is nought that is beau- 
tiful to be seen. I pray thee tell me, if thou canst, 
where are the flowers that I love so well. Tell me, 
shall I ever see them more?” 

The angel smiled, and stretching out her hand to 
catch the falling flakes of snow, said : 

“Is not this beautiful? So white, so pure, so 
gentle. It is the covering which your Heavenly 
Father in His great love, spreads over the cold 
earth.” 

And even as she spoke the snowflake in her hand 
[ 27 ] 


THE FAIR MAIDS OF FEBRUARY 


took form and budded and blossomed into a pure 
white flower, which hung its dainty head and trem- 
bled as if afraid to look upon the world into which 
it had been born. 



Then Eve dried her tears and broke forth into 
smiles as the angel handed her the frail blossom, 
saying : 

“It is a snowdrop. Take it, Eve, for it is a prom- 
128 ] 










THE FAIR MAIDS OF FEBRUARY 


ise of better things to come. Never again doubt 
your Father's love. You have only to wait, and 
when the winter's snows have gone and the sum- 



mer sun shines once more, the flowers will bloom 
again as beautiful as ever. 

Then Eve watched the angel return to Heaven, 
until the gleam of her silver wings was no longer 
to be seen. She still carried in her hand his tiny 

[ 31 ] 


THE FAIR MAIDS OF FEBRUARY 


gift and as she turned away she saw that where 
the angel’s feet had rested the snow had melted 
away, and on the green grass beneath was growing 
a lovely cluster of snowdrops. 

And every year since then, when the winter 
snows disappear, these sweet forerunners of the 
spring are found in the woods and dells, bringing a 
message of hope and a promise of brighter days to 
come. 

Many years afterwards the monks were fond of 
planting the snowdrop in their beautiful gardens. 
Not only did it teach them a lesson of faith and 
trust, but its sweet white blossoms were regarded 
as an emblem of purity. And poets have always 
loved to sing the praises of this, the earliest flower 
of spring. 


[ 32 ] 


THE LOVELESS YOUTH 



3 — The Enchanted Castle 





THE LOVELESS YOUTH 


“ Daffodils, that come before the swallow dares, 

And take the winds of March with beauty.” 

— Shakespeare. 


EARS and years ago the River- 
god wedded a beautiful water- 
nymph. Their son, Narcissus, 
was such a lovely boy to look 
upon that all who saw him 
loved him; but the boy did not 
return their love, for he was full of vanity and 

thought only of himself. 

[ 35 ] 



THE LOVELESS YOUTH 


Now as he grew to manhood Narcissus became 
more and more beautiful, and each woodland fairy 
or water-nymph would gladly have become his 
bride. 

At last a gentle nymph named Echo fell in love 



with him, and since he would not look at her, or 
give heed to her soft words, she pined away until 
nothing but her voice remained. 

Even to this day her plaintive cry may be heard 
among the hills answering back again the voices of 
those who laugh and sing. But now the nymphs 
[ 36 ] 



THE LOVELESS YOUTH 


were angry with the loveless youth, and prayed the 
gods to punish him for his heartlessness. 

So one day when he was wandering in the fields, 



they caused him to see his own features reflected in 
the clear waters of a crystal pool. 

Now Narcissus did not know that it was his own 
face which smiled up at him from the depths of the 
pool, but took it to be that of some lovely water- 
137 ] 


THE LOVELESS YOUTH 


nymph, and full of love and admiration he deter- 
mined to win her for his bride. 

But the image in the water returned no answer 
to his loving words, and did but mimic his every act 
and movement, till at last, in despair, he sat down 
by the water’s edge and wept bitter tears of disap- 
pointed love. 

And there he sat, day by day, till he grew pale 
and thin, and at last, like poor Echo, he pined 
away and died. 

Then on the border of the lake, where his dead 
body lay, there sprang up clusters of golden blos- 
soms. Daffodils we call them, but the gods called 
them “Narcissus,” in memory of the loveless youth. 

And beautiful they were to look upon ; but there 
was something missing, for as Narcissus shed no 
love around his path through life, so the flowers 
which bear his name shed no fragrance upon the 
air. 


[ 38 ] 


THE WIND FLOWER 


✓ 









THE WIND FLOWER 

“ The coy Anemone, that ne’er uncloses 
Her lips, until they’re blown on by the wind.” 

— H. Smith. 


LORA, Queen of all the flowers, 
fell in love with Zephyr, the 
West-wind, whose gentle breezes 
fanned her favorite blossoms, 
cooling them when the fierce rays 
of the sun fell hot upon them. 
But Zephyr cared not for Lady Flora. 

Zephyr loved a gentle nymph, who returned his 

[ 41 ] 



THE WIND FLOWER 


affection, but ere she could become his bride 
Flora changed her into a plant whose pale blos- 
soms shine and twinkle in the woods like stars on a 
dark night. 



Now this fair nymph was beloved not only by 
Zephyr, the gentle West-wind, but by Boreas, the 
cold, rough North-wind, and it happened that the 
time at which she became a flower was at that sea- 

[ 42 ] 


THE WIND FLOWER 


son when “the North-wind doth blow,” so Boreas 
had her in his power. 

And then to punish her for bestowing her love 
upon another, he blew roughly upon her and scat- 
tered her delicate petals upon the ground. Then 



the gods, because she was beloved by the winds, 
called her Anemone, the wind-flower. 

Every year when the March winds blow she 
opens her dainty blossoms, and every year Boreas 
revenges his unrequited love by shattering and de- 
stroying her beauty. 


[431 


THE WIND FLOWER 


But the gentle Anemone returns good for evil, 
for she loves the wind, and opens her soft pink and 
white petals when the March breezes blow loud and 
shrill. 

The poets call her “Child of the Wind,” and 



country people tell us she is a capital weather- 
glass, for when the wind drops and the dark clouds 
begin to gather she knows that rain is coming. 

Gentle, loving little flower, “Waiting for the 
breathing of the wind,” we can all have a lesson 

[ 44 ] 


THE WIND FLOWER 


from you. Why not be like the Anemone, and when 
others use you roughly, seek not revenge, but 
rather give good for evil. 



[ 45 ] 




t 









I 



THE FATE OF HYACINTHUS 


































THE FATE OF HYACINTHUS 


“ His polish’d limbs, by strange enchantment’s power, 
Shoot into bud and blossom into flower.” 

— Ovid . 


NE day when Apollo, the Sun-god, 
was driving in his chariot across 
the land of Greece, he saw in the 
palace gardens of the King of 
Sparta a beautiful boy at play. 

No sooner did the Sun-god set 
eyes upon the king’s son than he loved him and de- 
sired to have him for his own. He quickly won the 

4— The Enchanted Castle [ 49 ] 



THE FATE OF HYACINTHUS 


boy’s affections, and the two were like father and 
son, so happy were they in their love for one 
another. 

They walked and drove together, and played at 



merry games in the king’s gardens, while Apollo 
lavished upon the boy gifts rich and costly, for he 
thought nothing too good for his beautiful Hya- 
cinthus. 


[ 50 ] 



THE FATE OF HYACINTHUS 


So all went well for quite a time, until Zephyr, 
the West-wind, who also loved the boy, grew jeal- 
ous of his evident preference for the Sun-god. 

He tried by all means in his power to win the 
love of Hyacinthus, but the youth took no heed, 
and in spite of the West-wind’s gentle words and 





tender, soft caresses, he continued to love Apollo 
best. 

Then Zephyr became angry and jealous. Day 
by day he watched the two friends, and waited his 
opportunity for revenge. 

Now it happened one bright spring morning that 
[ 51 ] 


THE FATE OF HYACINTHUS 


Apollo and Hyacinthus were playing a game of 
quoits together. The boy’s merry laugh rang 
through the clear air and reached the ears of 
Zephyr, who was hiding in the branches of a tree 
close by. 



An angry look passed over his face as he ex- 
claimed, “He shall die. Rather than give him up to 
Apollo, I will cause his death!” 

At that very moment Apollo raised his arm and 
threw his quoit. Straight as a dart it sped, until a 

[ 52 ] 


THE FATE OF HYACINTHUS 


strong gust of wind, raised for the purpose by the 
angry Zephyr, changed its course, so that it struck 
Hyacinthus upon the head and killed him. 

And now the revenge of the West-wind was 
complete, for not only had Apollo lost the object of 
his love, but he had slain him with his own hands. 

Then the Sun-god was frantic with grief, and, 



casting himself upon the body of his favorite, he 
wept loud and long. “Oh! my beloved ,' 9 he cried, 
“come back, come back to me! woe, woe, woe is 
me!” 

But nothing could restore the boy to life again. 
There was but one thing he could do, and in order 
that the memory of his darling might remain fresh 

[ 53 ] 


THE FATE OF HYACINTHUS 


and fragrant among men, he changed the beauti- 
ful but lifeless form into a sweet and lovely flower. 

So year by year, with each returning spring, the 
Hyacinths reappear and spread a rich carpet over 
the woods and dells, reminding us of the ill-fated 
youth whose life was sacrificed to “the green-eyed 
monster,” jealousy. 



[ 54 ] 


ST. LEONARD AND 
THE FIERY SNAKE 





# 













# 













* 
























ST. LEONARD AND THE FIERY SNAKE 

A little monitor presents her page 
Of choice instruction, with her snowy bells ! 

The Lily of the Vale.” 


UNDREDS of years ago there 
was a vast forest in England, 
wherein lurked all manner of 
wild beasts and loathsome rep- 
tiles. The trees grew thick 
and tall, but beneath them the 
earth was brown and bare, for no grass or flower 
could grow within the gloomy forest. 

[ 57 ] 



ST. LEONARD AND THE FIERY SNAKE 


Now at this time there lived a good and holy 
knight named Saint Leonard, and it so happened 
that as he journeyed through the land, seeking how 
he might do good and help his fellow-men, that he 
came in the course of his wanderings to the bor- 
ders of the great forest. 

The country people whom he met warned him 
against attempting to penetrate its depths, and said 
to him, “The forest is haunted with evil things, 
which no man shall encounter and live to tell the 
tale.” 

Now Saint Leonard did not know what fear was, 
and persisted on going into the perilous forest. So 
he left them and entered the gloomy wood, and be- 
fore he had gone far he saw coming towards him a 
terrible monster in the form of a fiery snake. 

On it came, breathing out flames of fire, and pre- 
paring to coil itself around the brave knight, whom 
it would have crushed to death in its fierce embrace. 

But Saint Leonard drew his sword and prepared 
to engage in a deadly struggle with the monster. 
For three long days and nights they fought, until 
[ 58 ] 




























































































ST. LEONARD AND THE FIERY SNAKE 


on the morning of the fourth day the evil beast lay 
wounded and dying at the feet of the victorious 
knight. 

With one stroke of his sword he severed the 



head of the snake from its body, and then turned to 
retrace his steps towards the village he had left. 

The dying shrieks of the fiery snake had so ter- 
rified the other evil inhabitants of the forest that 
they had all taken flight, most of them in their 
[ 61 ] 


ST. LEONARD AND THE FIERY SNAKE 


great haste falling headlong into the ocean on the 
shores of the great forest. 

But the knight had been sorely wounded in the 
fray and blood-drops marked his way through the 
trackless forest. 



At length he reached the village and sank, ex- 
hausted and senseless, upon the steps of the near- 
est cottage. The villagers thought he had re- 
turned only to die, but after a time he opened his 
eyes, and in a few days he was strong enough to tell 
his wondrous tale. 


[ 62 ] 







ST. LEONARD AND THE FIERY SNAKE 


Then, indeed, the villagers were filled with as- 
tonishment, and a party of them set off to see if the 
knight’s story was true. To their great surprise, 
when they reached the borders of the forest, there 
lay before them a sunlit path strewn with pure 
white blossoms. 

As they followed its winding course, they found 
that wherever the blood of the wounded knight had 
fallen, lovely “Lilies of the Valley” had sprang up. 
On and on they went, until they came to the spot 
where the death-blow had been given. 

The body of the hideous monster had disap- 
peared, but all around, the sweet, fragrant lilies 
grew in lovely clusters, and from their tiny bells 
came sweet music, repeating to the astonished vil- 
lagers the story of the triumph of good over evil, 
love over hate, right over might. 


& — The Enchanted Castle [ 65 ] 




4 


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4 



















A FAIR PRISONER 



4 



A FAIR PRISONER 

41 The sweetest flower 
That decks the golden breast of May.” 

— Langhorne. 


OME four or five hundred years 
ago there stood upon the banks 
of the River Tweed, in Great 
Britain, a grand and stately cas- 
tle. 

It was enclosed by high walls, 
and its gates were guarded day and night by sol- 
diers, for these were warlike times, and an enemy 

[ 69 ] 



A FAIR PRISONER 


might be lurking near, watching his opportunity to 
make a raid upon the owner’s property. 

At one corner of the castle was a high tower, in 
the topmost chamber of which was imprisoned a 
beautiful maiden, the only daughter of the chief- 
tain who owned the castle. 

And not far away stood another grand old cas- 
tle, the lord of which was her father’s greatest 
enemy, whose only son had dared to ask the 
maiden’s hand in marriage. 

Very terrible to see was the chieftain’s anger 
when his child confessed her love for the son of his 
enemy; and since she would not give him up, or 
listen to the words of other suitors, he shut her up 
in the turret-chamber, where she could hold no 
communication with the outer world. 

Day after day this stern father climbed the steep 
staircase and bid the maiden renounce her love. 
But the poor girl remained faithful, and continued 
a prisoner. 

And what of her lover? Had he deserted her? 

[ 70 ] 



























































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» 












A FAIR PRISONER 


No indeed; he thought of her day and night, and 
was busy forming plans for her escape. 

In the disguise of a peddler he came to offer his 



wares for sale at the castle, and by means of rich 
gifts he bribed the maid who waited upon his be- 
trothed to convey to her a stout silken cord, by 
which she should descend from the turret-window. 

[ 73 ] 


A FAIR PRISONER 


There he would await her, with horses, outside 
the castle walls, and together they would ride to the 
nearest church and be wedded without delay. 

At last the appointed day came. In the gather- 
ing twilight the maiden saw her lover’s signal, and 



fastening the cord to the bars of the window she 
began the perilous descent. 

But, alas, for the hopes of the youthful pair! 
Making too great haste to accomplish her descent, 
her trembling hands missed their hold of the ropes 

[ 74 ] 


A FAIR PRISONER 


and she fell, bruised, bleeding, and dying, into the 
courtyard below. Then in the words of an old 
song: 

“ Love in pity to the deed, 

And her loving luckless speed, 

Twined her to this plant we call 
Now the ‘ Flower of the Wall/ ” 

And ever since, upon old walls, and in the nooks 
and crannies of ruined buildings, the golden wall- 
flowers have bloomed, filling the air with fra- 
grance as they tell their story of faithful love. 



[ 75 ] 


V 









» 












THE UNGRATEFUL TRAVELER 







7 


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THE UNGRATEFUL TRAVELER 


“ That blue and bright-eyed flow’ret of the brook, 
Hope’s gentle gem, the sweet forget-me-not.” 

— Coleridge . 


NCE a weary traveler, wandering 
alone on the steep side of a bare 
and desolate mountain, came unex- 
pectedly upon a tiny stream of 
water trickling down between the 
rocks. 

Following its course down the mountain side, he 
entered a wooded glen, where the banks of the 

[ 79 ] 



THE UNGRATEFUL TRAVELER 


stream were covered with green grass, among 
which he suddenly espied the sweet blue blossoms 
of a tiny flower. 

For many days his path had lain across a rough 



and rugged country, where no blade of grass or 
star-like blossom greeted his coming, so now he 
eagerly gathered a handful of the pale blue flowers 
and tied them for safety to the handle of his staff. 

Then as he turned to continue his way he saw 
[ 80 ] 


THE UNGRATEFUL TRAVELER 


before him a great doorway in the rock, which 
opened to him of its own accord. 

Entering, he found himself in a magnificent 
home, where around him on every side lay heaps 



of treasure — gold, silver, and rich raiment — while 
fairy voices bid him help himself. 

Hastily throwing aside his staff, and with it the 
“luck-flowers” which he had gathered, he filled his 
pockets with jewels, and taking as much treasure as 

G—The Enchanted Castle [ 81 ] 


THE UNGRATEFUL TRAVELER 


he could carry in his arms he turned to retrace his 
steps. As he did so, a sweet voice sounded in his 
ear, crying, “Forget-me-not! Forget-me-not !” 

But the ungrateful traveler paid no attention to 
the cry, and as he left the home the great door 
closed behind him with a crash. 



Instantly he found himself once more upon the 
bleak mountain side. The treasure which he had 
so greedily collected vanished from his grasp. Not 
even his staff remained to him, for he had left it be- 
hind with the “luck-flowers.” 

[ 82 ] 


THE UNGRATEFUL TRAVELER 


Then full of grief and disappointment, he con- 
tinued his journey across the lonely mountain; 
but though he sought it far and near he never again 
found the precious “luck-flower,” without which he 
could not gain an entrance to the fairy cave. 

Thus was his ingratitude punished ; and the sweet 
forget-me-not growing by the river-side contains a 
lesson for all who gather it, bidding them ever re- 
member the “Great Giver of all Good Gifts.” 



[ 83 ] 




/ 
















THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM 



I 


* 


























THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM 


** Stars, that in earth's firmament do shine.” 

— Longfellow • 

GOOD and holy man sat down to 
rest one evening beneath the shade 
of the palm-tree in a far Eastern 
country, far away from home and 
friends. 

The sun was sinking in the west, 
the air was hot and sultry, and all around him grew 
strange and wondrous plants and flowers. 

It was a beautiful land, but the stranger’s heart 
[ 87 ] 



THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM 


was sad within him. He had traveled far in order 
to carry the story of “J esus and His love” into 
heathen lands, but here, among the followers of the 
“false prophet,” none would listen to his tale. 

Even now as he sat beneath the palm-tree, the 



spires of the Mohammedan mosques gleamed 
white in the distance, and he could hear the voices 
of the priests as they chanted their evensong. 

“How ever can I serve my Master in such a land 
as this !” exclaimed the holy man. 

[ 88 ] 


THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM 


“All around me seems to brood the spell of an 
unholy influence ; even the very flowers have taken 
part in heathen rites and ceremonies. 

“Help me, Lord, for I am very weak,” and the 
stranger bowed his head in prayer. 



Just then a thrill of hope and joy passed through 
his sinking heart, for there in the green grass at his 
feet were the familiar star-like blossoms of a tiny 
plant. 


[ 89 ] 


THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM 


“The Star of Bethlehem” men call it, because of 
its resemblance to the bright messenger from 
heaven which, years ago, led the shepherds of Beth- 
lehem to the birthplace of the infant Saviour. 

And many and many times had the traveler gath- 



ered its pure white blossoms beside his own cot- 
tage door, and now, as he saw it growing content- 
edly beneath the shadow of those pagan plants, his 
soul was filled with fresh courage. 

Here in a strange land the little flower told the 

[ 90 ] 


THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM 


story of the Saviour’s birth, and its presence seemed 
to shed a ray of light and hope around. 

Cheered and strengthened, the holy man went on 
his way, ready once more to fulfil his labor of love, 
and to proclaim the good tidings of salvation to all 
who would hear. 



[ 91 ] 








V 


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THE ANGEL’S GIFT 








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THE ANGEL’S GIFT 


“ Rose ! thou art the sweetest flower 
That ever drank the amber shower.” 

— Moore* 


ORE than a thousand years ago, 
in the city of Bethlehem, a gen- 
tle maiden was accused by her 
enemies of wicked deeds, for 
which she was condemned to 
die. 

But the maiden was innocent ; and as she was led 

[ 95 ] 



THE ANGEL’S GIFT 


out to be burned, she prayed to God to prove her 
innocence. 

Then she was tied to the stake, and the faggots 
around her were set on fire, but to the astonish- 
ment of the bystanders they would not bum, and 
as the flames died out the stake to which the inno- 
cent maid was fastened became a tree, bearing red 
and white roses. 

They were the first roses ever seen on earth, said 
the people, and never before had such lovely flowers 
been seen. 

It is said that not long after the angel who 
takes care of the flowers in God’s beautiful garden, 
sprinkling them with dew in the early morn, fell 
asleep one warm summer day beneath the shade of 
a rose tree. 

Awaking refreshed, she turned to the tree, say- 
ing, “My beautiful child, how can I reward thee for 
the cool shelter of thy sweet-scented branches?” 

And the rose replied, “They call me the most 
beautiful of flowers. Make me, I pray thee, even 
more lovely still, if it be in thy power to do so.” 

[ 96 ] 

































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THE ANGEL’S GIFT 


Then the angel covered her with a coat of soft 
green moss, wherein she might hide her blushing 
face from the gaze of the passers-by. 

Now the rose is beloved by all the birds, espe- 



cially by the nightingale, the sweetest singer of 
them all. So great is his love that though 

“ rich the spot 

With every flower this earth has got, 

What is it to the nightingale 
If there his darling rose is not ? ” 

[ 99 ] 

L OF C. 


THE ANGEL’S GIFT 


It is said that when King Solomon, the wisest of 
kings, was reigning, the birds of the air came to 
him one day and told him that they could not sleep 
at night because of the weeping of the nightingale. 



“But why do you weep?” inquired the King of 
the nightingale. 

And the bird replied, “Once I was dumb, but the 
rose taught me to sing, and now I cannot bear 
[ 100 ] 


THE ANGEL’S GIFT 


to see her rudely handled and her petals crushed 
beneath the foot of man.” 

And indeed the fragrant rose is worthy of our 
love, for it is among the most beautiful of our 
Heavenly Father's gifts to us. 



[ 101 ] 








THE HOLY HAY 




/ 


I 












THE HOLY HAY 

“ Little deeds of kindness, 

Little words of love, 

Make our earth an Eden 
Like the heaven above.” 

— Dr. ‘Brewer. 

LMOST two thousand years ago 
the infant Jesus was laid to sleep 
in the manger of the inn at Bethle- 
hem. 

His bed was of fresh, sweet hay, 
among which were some fragments 
of a little plant which had grown all unnoticed 
among the grass. 



[ 105 ] 


THE HOLY HAY 


In wonder the tiny weed listened to the song of 
the angels as they sang “the sweetest carol ever 
heard”; in wonder it saw the precious gifts offered 
by the wise men and heard the praises of the shep- 
herds who had found their Saviour. 

“There must be something I can do,” whispered 



the little flower to itself, and presently the pretty 
pink blossoms opened and gently twined them- 
selves into a crown around the baby head. 

Some travelers standing near exclaimed “ ’Tis 
Holy Hay,” and ever since the pretty blossoms 
have borne the name of “Saint-foin ;” and ever as 
[ 106 ] 




































































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* • 


















































































































































THE HOLY HAY 


they reappear, year by year, in the fields and mead- 
ows they remind the little ones of that land that 
even they can do something “to please the King of 
Heaven.” 



[ 109 ] 









I 



































THE SEARCH FOR GOLD 





THE SEARCH FOR GOLD 


“ The Marigold, that goes to bed with the sun, 

And with him rises weeping.” 

— Shakespeare, 

BOUT four hundred years ago trav- 
elers returning to Europe brought 
back wondrous tales of rich gold 
mines in the country of Mexico, and 
after a while the people of Spain 
sent an army to fight the Mexicans 
and rob them of their riches. 

When the Spanish army reached the City of 

S— The Enchanted Castle [ 113 ] 



THE SEARCH FOR GOLD 


Mexico, which stood in the midst of a great plain, 
they were struck with wonder at the beauty and 
grandeur of all they saw. 

Gold seemed to be everywhere. Gold, gold. 



gold! But not content with taking what they 
could get, these cruel soldiers fell upon the Mexican 
nobles and put hundreds of them to death for the 
sake of the rich jewels they wore. 

After this there was a great battle, and the Mex- 

[ 114 ] 


THE SEARCH FOR GOLD 


ican King was taken prisoner and shut up in his 
own palace. 

But the brave people of the country were so en- 
raged by the cruelties of their Spanish conquerors 



that they would not submit. Battle after battle 
was fought, and the people were hunted down like 
wild beasts. 

At last the King was taken out of his prison 

[ 115 ] 


THE SEARCH FOR GOLD 


and placed in front of the Spanish army, and there 
in the fierce heat of the fight he was slain. 

Soon after the Mexicans fled, leaving thousands 
of brave men dead upon the battlefield. Their 
royal standard of pure gold was captured and Mex- 



ico was conquered. Then the Spaniards returned 
home, leaving only a small army to guard the city. 

In the following summer the vast plain sur- 
rounding the capital, upon which the last great bat- 
tle had been fought, was covered with a wealth of 
golden blossoms. 

Then the Mexicans said, “It is the ‘Death-flower.* 

[ 116 ] 


THE SEARCH FOR GOLD 


It has sprung from the blood of our brothers slain 
in battle by the cruel Spaniards.” 

But the Spaniards called them Marigolds, or 
“Mary’s gold,” because they said the mother of 
Jesus had given them the victory. 



[ 117 ] 



THE FLOWER FAIRIES 














THE FLOWER FAIRIES 

“ Never tread beneath your feet 
Flowers fair and flowers sweet ; 

Touch us tenderly with care 

Flowers sweet and flowers fair." 

NE bright sunny morning little Mae 
went out into the fields to gather a 
bunch of flowers for her mother. 
She went happily along, and soon 
came to a meadow gay with yellow 
buttercups. 

She picked a handful and then ran on, for she 
could see, just over the next wall, the red blossoms 
of a field of poppies. 



[ 121 ] 


THE FLOWER FAIRIES 


Some of these she gathered and put among her 
buttercups; but she did not stay long in this field, 
for she knew that a little farther on there was a 
stream, beside which grew the pretty blue forget- 
me-nots of which her mother was so fond. 

So Mae gathered a big bunch of these, and now 
held in her hand buttercups, poppies, and forget- 
me-nots. 

But after a while she began to get tired, so she 
sat down on the bank to rest, and presently she 
heard a soft little voice say: 

“Do you like butter ?” 

Mae looked quickly around, and saw before her a 
pretty little lady, with a crown of gold upon her 
head and dressed all in yellow. 

She was very much surprised, but being a polite 
little girl, replied: “Yes, thank you; and will you 
please tell me your name?” 

“Certainly,” said the little lady. “My name is 
Fairy Yellow, and I am Queen of the buttercups 
and daffodils, and all the yellow flowers ; here come 
my sisters, Fairy Red and Fairy Blue.” 

[ 122 ] 


THE FLOWER FAIRIES 


And there they were, two more little ladies, one 
dressed in red and the other in blue. 

“Good morning, ,, said Mae. 

“Good morning,” said Fairy Red. “I live among 
the poppies, and all the red flowers belong to me; 
poppies, and roses, and the holly-berries, and many 
more besides.” 

Then Fairy Blue said, “I am mistress of the blue- 
bells, and hare-bells, and forget-me-nots, and all 
the sweet blue flowers.” 

“I think you are all very pretty,” said Mae, “and 
I shall always think of you when I look at the 
flowers ; but now I must go home ; so good-bye.” 

“But we are going with you,” said the fairies, 
and to Mae’s astonishment each crept into a flower 
and nestled down comfortably; Fairy Yellow in a 
buttercup, Fairy Red in a poppy, and Fairy Blue in 
a forget-me-not. 

So Mae gathered up her flowers and set off home, 
and all the way the fairies sang to her the sweetest 
songs. 


[ 123 ] 







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H 70 86 






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